The Heart of the Shaman: Stories & Practices of the Luminous Warrior

In this enthusiastic but unwieldy work, Villoldo (Shaman, Healer, Sage), founder of the Four Winds Society shamanic healing school, encourages readers interested in becoming shamans to follow their dreams. Building on the practices covered in his previous book, Villoldo attempts to reveal the path to the “Primordial Light” (creative power of the universe) that he believes can become available to any seeker. Through the primordial light, Villoldo writes, readers can create beauty and peace, heal themselves, love others, and (most importantly) become a “luminous warrior” (one who is able to channel primordial light, even in dark times). The most interesting stories in the book are Villoldo’s anecdotes of studying and training with shamans throughout the Andes, particularly his teacher Don Manual. Readers already interested in the Four Winds Society or with previous knowledge of shamanism will enjoy Villoldo’s quirky work. However, readers new to Villoldo or shamanistic practice will find this very rough going. (Aug.)